Wire rope making machine



Oct. 19, 1954 R. F. DELP WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 2, 1951 ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1954 R. F. DELP WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINEFiled Jan. 2, 1951 II IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORIYUSSEZL E DELI:

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1954 DELP 2,691,864

WIRE ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiaxiu F.mu;-

1 N VENTOR BY I ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1954 R. F. DELP WIRE ROPE MAKINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2, 1951 INVENTOR I ll. mln

ATTORNEY Patented Get. 19, 1954 UNITED S'l'A'lEd OFFICE 4 Claims.

-or twisted together to provide an elongated strand, the invention beingadaptable to the. manufacture of strands of extremely small lateraldimension or .heavy wire cable.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a stranding machineinvolving new and improved means for regulating or determining the layin the completed strand, to automatically vary the speed of the wind-upbobbin to synchronize the lay to the speed of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein thetwisted strand is drawn through the machine in such manner as to he atall times visible to inspection in the formation ofthe strand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine involving theusual rotating twisting die in which the strand is formed by a pullingor draw operation, and wherein the speed of rotation of the twisting dieis maintained at the same rotational speed as the wind-up bobbin unit.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a Wirerope making machine embodying a rotating twisting die for forming thewires into a strand and wherein the formed strand is drawn through thedie and wound upon a wind-up drum having speed rotation equal to thespeed of rotation of the die, and wherein the automatic synchronizingmeans is provided to equalize the speed of rotation of the windmp bobbinwith the speed of travel of the strand through the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire rope makingmachine embodying the use of a positively driven rotating die throughwhich the wires are drawn and twisted into a finished. cable drawnthrough the machine by a wind-up drum, and wherein means are provided toretard or lessen the speed of rotation of the windup drum due to thegradually increasing diameter thereof in the wind-up operationtoautomatically slow down the speed of rotation of the bobbin in orderthat the finished strand may be drawn through the machine at uniformspeed.

A further object is to provide a wire ropemaking machine of that typewhich involves a twisting die rotating at uniform speed, and a wind-upbobbin to draw the finished strand through the die, and means interposedbetween the die and the wind-up bobbin whereby to automatically slowdown the speed of rotation of the wind-up bobbin in order that .aconstant and uniform speed of travel of the wires and strand through thetwisting die is maintained at all times.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which willappear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a wire rope making machine constructed inaccordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the intermediate unit, in part,of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon line 4-4of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the selective gearassembly,

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary sectional view of diagrammatic natureshowing the flow of power from shaft 39 to flier shaft II? of thewind-up bobbin, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the mounting of the slidable head onthe jack shaft.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, [0represents a plurality of feed wire bobbin frames arranged in spacedparallel relationship, rotatably supported at their ends in suitablebearings indicated at I l and each having rotatably supported thereinand transversely thereof a wire bobbin l2. The wires [3 from each of thebobbins I2 pass through the hollow trunnion at the forward end of eachof the frames 10 and are drawn in converging relationship into aconventional type of rotating twisting die Hi after first passingthrough a separating or dividing device indicated at 55. The die- M isattached to the die spindle represented generally at I6, which spindleis hollow throughout its length in order that the twisted strandindicated at I! may be drawn from the die in its finished or twistedform. The strand ll continues in a straight line beyond the twisting dieand is ultimately wound upon the wind-up bobbin l8 rotatably mounted inthe wind-up bobbin frame l9 rotatably supported in bearings 20.

The mechanism for bringing about the operations thus far brieflydescribed and the mechanism hereinafter more fully described receivesits power from the main power source 2|, which may be an electric motoror any other prime mover. This motor drives belt 22 which passes over apulley 23 affixed to main power shaft 24 of the machine, which shaft ismounted for rotation in suitable bearings as shown. Affixed to the shaft24 is a sprocket wheel 25 over which passes chain 26 engaged oversprocket 2'! carried by, a'trunnion of one of the wire feed bobbinframes [0. The remainder of the frames may be driven by belt or chainconnections 28-29 in the manner shown clearly in Fig. 1. This powerdrive assures positive rotary movement of the various feed bobbin framesat uniform speed.

The die spindle H3 is driven from the main shaft 24 by a. sprocket chain36 passing over a sprocket wheel 3| affixed to the said shaft 24 andalso passing over the compound idler sprocket 32, from which sprocketchain 33 passes over a suitable sprocket 34 affixed to the die spindle.

The wind-up bobbin frame I9 has been described as being rotatablysupported by hollow trunnions in bearings 25], and this frame ispositively driven by a sprocket chain 35 which passes over a sprocketwheel 35 affixed to one of the trunnions of the said bobbin cradle andalso over a sprocket 37 aihxed to a jack shaft 38 which is positivelydriven by a chain 39 passing over sprockets 4-0 and 4| securedrespectively to the jack shaft 38 and the main power shaft 24. The chaindrives between the main power shaft 24 and the twister die and thewind-up bobbin cradle rotate the die and cradle at the same or atuniform speeds to produce a cable of the type here under consideration,but it will be understood that these rotative speeds may be varied ifoccasion demands.

Arranged in conjunction with this machine is a standard fluid controlledvariable speed mechanism which obtains its power from the main driveshaft 24 through the instrumentality of a drive chain 42 which passesover a sprocket 43 affixed to the shaft 25 and also over a sprocket Maffixed to the main drive shaft 45 of the variable speed regulator. Themain shaft 45 has aflixed thereto the opposed cones 46 accommodatingbetween them the belt 41 which also passes over opposed and adjustablecones 48 carried by the jack shaft 49 of the variable speed mechanism.The variable speed mechanism here shown is of standard well knownconstruction and operation and a detail description thereof maytherefore be dispensed with, it being sufficient to say that the driveshaft arms 55 upon their pivots is brought about by suitable fluidpressure mechanism contained within the housing 53 and the proper degreeof pressure is maintained by the motor 54. Operation of this variablespeed mechanism is controlled by lever 55 which governs the direction ofliquid pressure by operation of valve 56 as will be understood.

Affixed to the die spindle H5 is a spur gear 51 in mesh with a compoundintermediate idler 58 rotatably supported as at 59, which idler is indriving connection with gear 60 mounted upon sleeve 6| through whichpasses supporting shaft 62 rigidly secured at one end by the nut 63 to astrut or part of the frame of the machine indicated at 64. Also mountedupon the sleeve GI are a plurality of gears of varied sizes indicated at65, the innermost or largest of the said gears being separated from themain gear by the spacer B5. The gears 65 are held in proper frictionaland locking engagement with one another by a nut 67 threaded upon theouter end of sleeve 5| and maintained in firm gear clamping relationshipby means of the Washer 6-8 secured in place by a cotter pin 69 passingthrough the end of supporting shaft 62. It will be seen from thisconstruction that the main gear and the gang of gears 6-5 are rigidlysecured together as a unit upon the sleeve 6| which in turn is rotatablysupported upon the fixed shaft 62. The construction is such that thegang of gears is positively driven by the spur gear 51 which is affixedto the die spindle I6.

Arranged beyond the shaft 62 and rotatably supported at its ends insuitable bearings in the frame or strut 6A is a jack shaft Ill uponwhich is splined a gear H. This gear rotates positively with the shaft10 but is capable of sliding longitudinally thereon by means of a keyengaged in a keyway I2 as shown in Fig. 2. The gear H is confinedbetween the arms 13 of a' rocker arm 14, the outer ends of which arerotatably engaged upon the shaft 10. The rocker arm 14 also rotatablysupports upon the shaft 15 an idler gear 15, the said gear being inconstant mesh with gear 'H. It will be observed that the rocker arm ismounted in such position that the idler gear HS may be brought intointermeshing engagement with the teeth of any one of the-several gearsof the gang 55, the sliding connection of the outer end of the rockerarm with the jack shaft Ill permitting this selectivity. The inner endof rocker arm 14 is provided with a threaded stud l! to engageselectively within openings 18 in plate 19 attached to the frame of themachine. The construction is such that the drive ratio between the diespindle I6 and the jack shaft 10 may be varied as desired by moving therocker arm 14 to engage the idler gear 16 with a gear of the gang 65 ofthe proper ratio, to determine the lay of the twisted strand.

Mounted upon the shaft 10 and capable of travelling longitudinallythereon is a housing represented generally at 80. This housing is ofsubstantially cylindrical shape and has mounted in its opposite endsbevel gears 8| which are provided with threads to engage with thethreads 82 on the shaft HI. A spacer sleeve 83 is arranged within thehousing and is interposed between the bevel gears 8|, whileanti-friction means 84 are arranged within the housing to permit of thebevel gears and the spacing sleeve 83 rotating independently thereof.The housing 85 is rigidly secured to the head 85 carried by arm 86disposed horizontally across the machine and confined within a guide orkeeper plate 81 afixed to the machine frame adjacent to the path oftravel of the strand I1 and transversely thereof. The end of the arm 86has arranged thereon a roller or reel 88 to which is attached one end ofa wire or cord 89, which cord is attached to valve operating lever 55 ofthe variable speed regulator heretofore described. The free end of thecord or wire 89 has secured thereto a weight 90, the wire or cord 89passing over a guide roller 9|.

The head 85 has rotatably mounted thereon a pair of shafts 92, each ofwhich has secured to the outer ends thereof a bevel gear 93 in mesh withthe adjacent bevel gear 8| carried by the housing as heretoforedescribed. One of the shafts 92 has secured thereto one end of auniversal coupling indicated at '94, which coupling is connected to oneend of an extensible shaft indicated at 95. The opposite end of theshaft 95 is connected by a similar universal connection 96 to a spindle91 to which is attached a regulator wheel 98. The spindle 91 is suitablymounted in proper bearings for rotation in the frame of the machine, andmaintains the regulator wheel in such position that the strand I 1moving from the twister die to the windup bobbin passes directly overthe periphery thereof, frictional contact between the strand I! and theregulator wheel 88 being assured by rollers 89 rotatably secured to thelower ends of shafts IE8 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings i'tlsecured to the frame. These shafts are mounted for vertical slidingmovement in the bearings WI and expansion Springs Hi2 encircling theshafts and bearing at one end against collars m3 affixed to the shaftsand against the uppermost of the bearings I (H maintain the rollers 99in yielda'ble contact with the strand Ill passing over the regulatorWheel 98.

From this construction it will be clear that rotative movement of thetwister die will be transmitted from spur gear 5? through compound idlergear 58 to main gear cs through the selected gear of the gang 65 toidler gear Hi to gear H causing the threaded shaft '59 to rotate. Thespeed of rotation of the shaft 30 will be determined, of course, by thegear of the gang 55 which has been selected. As the strand Il passesfrom the twister die it travels over a part of the periphery of theregulator wheel 98 thus imparting rotative movement to the said wheel,which movement is transmitted to shaft Bl which is connected bytelescopic shaft 95 to shaft 92 carrying bevel gear 93 in mesh withbevel gear 8! threadedly engaged with the threads 82 of the shaft H3.

The main power shaft 2Q has affixed thereto a sprocket I 04, over whichpasses a chain I05 which in turn engages a sprocket I05 afiixed to acountershaft an suitably mounted in bearings I03 and disposed parallelto the axis of the wind-up cradle or frame I9, The shaft Ifl'l hassecured thereto a head 109 to which are secured spindles IIIl upon whichare idler bevel gears H I forming a component part of a familiardifferential. Mounted for rotation upon the shaft I07 are complementarydriving and driven bevel gears H2 and I I3 respectively, which bevelgears are in mesh with gears III. The driven gear I I3 has affixedthereto a sprocket wheel l I4, over which passes a chain II5 alsoengaged with a sprocket wheel H6 secured to the outer end of a shaftII'I passing longitudinally through the hollow supporting trunnion N3 ofone end of the wind-up frame or cradle E9. The shaft Ml extends throughto the interior of the frame or cradle I9 and has a gear I2fl affixedthereto. This gear is in mesh with a gear I2! affixed to one end of ashaft 22 mounted in suitable bearings longitudinally of the cradle Hi.The opposite end of this shaft has attached thereto a bevel gear I23which is in mesh with a similar gear I24 secured to one end of thebobbin supporting shaft I25. The bevel gear 12s is in mesh with asimilar gear I25 affixed to the inner end of a shaft I2! mounted insuitable bearings at the side of the cradle or frame I9 and parallel tothe axis thereof. The opposite end of shaft I21 has secured thereto abevel gear 528 in mesh with a similar gear I29 affixed to one end of acam drum I3I having a cam groove I32 therein to be engaged by a guide ortraveller I33 slid- 6 ably carried by a bar 434 disposed transverselywithin the frame and directly above the cam drum II. It will beunderstood that the traveller I 33 is equipped with an eye through whichpasses the strand Ill and that the follower I33 is given reciprocatorymovement by its engagement within the groove I32 in the drum I31.

Referring back to the variable speed mechanism, it will be observed thatthe driven shaft 49 thereof is disposed substantially parallel with theaxis of the Wind-up bobbin frame, and is mounted for rotation insuitable bearings I35. This shaft has secured thereto a sprocket 3 6over which passes a chain I3'I in turn passing over a sprocket I33affixed to the driving bevel gear II2.

In operation, the several mechanisms referred to derive their power fromthe main power source 2! through the instrumentality of the main powershaft 2d. The wires I3 pass through the guide plate It and through therotating twister die id where they are twisted into the strand I1, andthis strand I'I passes over and in frictional contact with wheel 98 andfrom thence to the windup drum iii. The wind-up drum obtains itsrota'tive power from main shaft 24 through sprocket chain Hi5 and theassociated sprockets, shaft till through the differential gears -I if,HI and H3, sprocket H4, chain H5, sprocket iIEi, shaft ill, gear Iii},gear I2l, bevel gear 23 and similar gear lid affix-ed to the transversesupporting shaft of the wind-up bobbin. It will be observed that thedriven variable speed shaft 49 is in positive driving connection withbevel gear II2 of the differential mechanism through the instrumentalityof chain I3l and sprockets I3Ei I38. As long as the speed of rotation ofthe Windup bobbin exerts a linear pull upon the strand Il' commensuratewith the speed of operation of the twister die I i, the drive of thewind-up b0b= bin will remain as described. However, as the Wind-upbobbin fills there will be a tendency of the strand IT to increaselinear speed. This increase in linear speed is detected by Wheel 98, andthis increased speed influence is transmitted through shaft to bevelgear 93 and to bevel gear BI. This differential causes the gears 8i tomove longitudinally upon shaft 82 due to their threaded connectiontherewith, whereupon arm 86 moves to draw the wire or cord 89 to operatelever 5d controlling the hydraulics of the variable speed regulatingmechanism. This immediately varies the speed regulating device tocompensate for the change of speed, whereupon the operated shaft 49 ofthe variable speed regulating mechanism immediately reflects thisvariation of speed in the differential bevel gear Il2 through theinstrumentalit'y of chain l3? and sprockets I36 ltd. The bevel gear IIZthereupon transmits this speed variation to the cooperating gears of thedifferential bringing about the desired variation in the driving speedof the chain II5. As the strand continues to wind upon the bobbin andthus increases its circumference the tendency for the strand I? toincrease its linear speed continues, and the speed ratio is in themanner described automatically and progressively compensated for.

When the wind-up bobbin has become filled the machine is brought to restand the bobbin removed to be replaced by an empty spool. The new end ofthe cable is attached to this spool, whereupon the wheel 98 is manuallyrotated to reset the automatic regulating device on the threaded shaft82 to its initial position, whereupon the operation above described isrepeated with the same results.

I claim:

1. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting die,means operated by said power source to rotate said die at constantspeed, a rotatable bobbin frame, a wind-up bobbin in said frame, meansoperated by said power source to rotate said bobbin to draw a pluralityOf wires into a twisted strand through said die, a jack shaft, a driveconnection between said die and said jack shaft, a head slidablelongitudinally upon said jack shaft, means governed by the linear speedof said strand for moving said head on said jack shaft, and meansinterposed in said bobbin rotating means governed by the slidingmovements of said head for varying the speed of said bobbin rotatingmeans.

2. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting diedriven from said power source at a constant speed, a rotatable bobbinframe, a wind-up bobbin rotatable in said frame, means operated by saidpower source to rotate said bobbin to draw a plurality of wires into atwisted strand through said die, a jack shaft, a drive connectionbetween said die and said jack shaft, a head slidable on said jackshaft, means governed by the linear speed of said strand for moving saidhead on said jack shaft, variable speed mechanism in said bobbinrotating means, and means governed by the sliding movements of said headon said jack shaft for operating said variable speed mechanism tomaintain the lay of said strand.

3. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting 'diedriven from said power source at a constant speed, a rotatable bobbinframe, a wind-up bobbin rotatable in said 8 frame, means operated bysaid power source to rotate said bobbin to draw a plurality of wiresinto a twisted strand through said die, a jack shaft, a variable speeddrive connection between said die and said jack shaft, a head slidableon said jack shaft, means governed by the linear speed of said strandfor moving said head on said jack shaft, a variable speed mechanism insaid bobbin rotating means, and means governed by the sliding movementsof said head on said jack shaft for operating said variable speedmechanism to maintain the lay of said strand.

4. In a wire rope making machine, a main power source, a twisting diedriven by said power source at a constant speed, a rotatable bobbinframe and means for driving the same from said power source, a wind-upbobbin rotatable in said frame, a variable speed mechanism interposedbetween said power source and said bobbin to rotate the latter to draw aplurality of wires into a twisted strand through said die, and meansgoverned by the linear speed of said strand to operate said variablespeed mechanism independently of the speed of rotation of said bobbinframe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,171,993 Reichelt Sept. 5, 1939 2,287,708 Reynolds et al June23, 1942 2,349,882 Reichelt May 30, 1944 2,360,783 MacCreadie Oct. 17,1944 2,484,178 MacCreadie Oct. 11, 1949 2,526,247 Lewis Oct. 17, 19502,546,977 Clary, Jr. et al Apr. 3, 1951

